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Hero Member

I got the following reply in which giving extension was mentioned from the point of view of those who may take time to complete next step of their ongoing process like medical and passport submission. Please read the reply below:

Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The resumption of services at the Visa Application Centres, or travel restrictions are subject to authorization from local government authorities.

In the meantime, individuals who have applied for a visitor visa, a work permit, a study permit or for permanent residence, but cannot complete the next steps in the process on time due to coronavirus (COVID‑19) situation in your country of residence, your application will not have their application refused solely on the basis of not completing these requests. More time (extensions) will automatically be provided to applicants in these situations.

· submitting passport or supporting documents, such as a police certificate

· completing an immigration medical examination

· submitting biometrics

Extensions are automatic, please do not write to the visa office to request an extension or to request confirmation. We have insufficient resources available at the present time to respond to this type of inquiry. We will not send you an updated request letter.

Please monitor the special measures link above and once it is possible to complete these requests, applicants are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to avoid further delays.

VIP Member

I have my CoPR expiring on 27th April. Even when these new exemptions I cannot travel as India has restricted all international flights until 14th April. Once these are lifted, we can possibly travel, but given the circumstances of COVID spreading exponentially in US, I dont think I would want to travel and risk contracting this during my transit. Canada is a new place for me and no-one there to take care if, something were to happen during transit. I hope IRCC extends the CoPR in these circumstances for people who dont want to take the risk of traveling at this time.
I had raised a WebForm on 23rd March. Have not got a reply yet. I am fearing that for people who got CoPR before 16th March, they will not provide any exemptions and the CoPR will expire.

So assuming that your airline does not cancel your end April flight which is still possible as airlines are continuing to park planes and temporarily layoff staff April/May due the worldwide travel restrictions making simply impossible to operate , the emergency travel restrictions including exemptions that Canada has in place are currently valid through June 30th.

What this means is that it is likely that although there are travel exemptions that those exemptions are conditional on a self isolation for 14 days which was just made mandatory, no public transport use, no stopping off to acommodation and non compliance subject to upto 750k fine or 6 months in jail.

Personally I cannot see Canada relaxing this isolation rule for international arrivals for the next couple of months at least, hopefully they simply have the sense not to relax it given even Chinas numbers after 2 months are showing most new infections now are people arriving into China.

So based on your other post your soft landing window, assuming the isolation rule stays which hopefully from a Canadian viewpoint it does , is not viable at this point. Having said that given you have followed the procedure to raise a webform recording your travel issues so you should be in the system for a reply when IRCC decide what action to take .

This comment not any help but in hindsight as as been stressed on here many times to many posters even though everfyone has their reasons that it is never a good plan to leave it until the last week before a COPR expires even without the COVID situation given there is no contingency for the unexpected. If the circumstances were normal then whilst everyone has the right to arrive just in time if failure to arrive were any other reason other than a global pandemic a new immigrant would have a hard challenge getting any sympathy from IRCC for missing the COPR date.

Canada by the way has no 6 month passport validty date although of course cannot speak to India or any transit countries.

Star Member

Hi guys, I recently received my COPR and I was planing to move to canada next week. However a state of emergency was announced in the country I live in because of the covid 19 and I'm not allowed leave the country in the next month.
Would the IRCC expand my COPR in case the emergency state lasted more than my COPR validity?

Note that even if you are now exempt from travel restrictions prohibiting travel to Canada, you may still be subject to lockdown restrictions by local authorities that prevent travel to an airport.

If your counterfoil expires prior to the restrictions being lifted, you do not need to email us as you will receive communication from our office on the next steps to be taken in order to travel to Canada after the travel restrictions have been lifted.

For up-to-date information regarding IRCC’s response to COVID-19, follow us on Facebook. As we are receiving numerous e-mails during this time, please only email us if you CANNOT find the answer through the information and helpful links on our Facebook page.

Note that even if you are now exempt from travel restrictions prohibiting travel to Canada, you may still be subject to lockdown restrictions by local authorities that prevent travel to an airport.

If your counterfoil expires prior to the restrictions being lifted, you do not need to email us as you will receive communication from our office on the next steps to be taken in order to travel to Canada after the travel restrictions have been lifted.

For up-to-date information regarding IRCC’s response to COVID-19, follow us on Facebook. As we are receiving numerous e-mails during this time, please only email us if you CANNOT find the answer through the information and helpful links on our Facebook page.

Right and raise web form to specific Visa Office where your application was approved. Then only you'll get reply within 1-2 days.

I did mine yesterday to NDVO, and they replied within next 5 hours.

This says everything, If your counterfoil expires prior to the restrictions being lifted, you do not need to email us as you will receive communication from our office on the next steps to be taken in order to travel to Canada after the travel restrictions have been lifted.